Israel continues to forbid entry of mobile homes and heavy equipment into Gaza

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to allow the entry of mobile homes and heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip following the meeting of the Security Cabinet on Saturday evening, Kan public broadcaster reported on Sunday morning. 

Netanyahu's decision comes despite the ceasefire agreement's terms, which specify that infrastructure reconstruction will begin as early as the first phase and outline the amount of equipment allowed for rubble removal.

Reportedly, the terms also include the entry of materials for erecting around 60,000 mobile homes and about 200,000 new tents. An Israeli official said the entry of mobile homes into the Strip would be discussed in the coming days and that Israel is fully coordinating with the United States. 

"After a security consultation held tonight, headed by the prime minister, it was decided that the caravan issue will be discussed in the coming days. Israel is fully coordinated with the US," the official said. 

Photos and video footage on Arab news sites and social media from last week showed trucks carrying mobile homes and tractors waiting for Israeli approval to enter Gaza. 

The images provoked outrage within Israel, especially after a video on social media appeared to show mobile homes already inside the Strip. Sources in the civil administration told The Jerusalem Post that the video is fake and is being distributed by Hamas to sow discord among the Israeli population. 

The Prime Minister's Office also denied the reports of the mobile homes entering Gaza. 

"Contrary to reports in Arab media – there are no caravans about to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing,” Netanyahu Spokesman Omer Dostri wrote. 

“According to the agreement with the mediators, the Rafah crossing is operated by a multinational force only for the evacuation of Gazans to Egypt and/or to a third country.” 

Several opinion articles in Arab media and posts on social media reported that Netanyahu is delaying entry of mobile homes and equipment into Gaza to increase the number of people willing to make voluntary emigration. 

Hamas cited the refusal to allow entry of the mobile homes and heavy equipment as a violation of the terms of the agreement, and initially announced a postponement of the hostage release, before eventually agreeing to release three more hostages. 

Saturday's Security Cabinet meeting was reportedly meant to decide the Israeli position on the hostage release going forward after U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum last week, in which he demanded the release of all hostages. 

Meanwhile, the mediating countries have increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to begin negotiations for the second phase of the deal.

An Israeli source who spoke to Hebrew media said that in order to continue the release of hostages in the first phase, Israel must begin to conduct serious negotiations on the next phase.

According to the original agreement, talks for the second phase were supposed to be completed at the end of next week. However, negotiations for the second phase have not yet begun. 

Israeli media said Netanyahu has not given the negotiating team a mandate to begin substantive talks on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which would see the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire.